Relay



W. JUPTNER March 14, 1961 'RELAY Filed Aug. 9, 1957 FIG.3

ATTORNEYS United States Patent RELAY Wilhelm Juptner, Elgin, Ill., assignor to C. P. Clare 8: Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 9, 1957, Ser. No. 677,275

7 Claims. (Cl. 200-93) The present invention relates to relays and more particularly to improvements in polarized relays.

In recent years there has been an increased use in aircraft or air-borne devices of switching relays which are small in size, reliable in operation and inexpensive to manufacture, and which are sufficiently sensitive to respond to the polarity of low level pulses in order to perform desired circuit switching functions. Moreover, the switching position of a relay designed for use in such applications should not be spuriously and erroneously changed if the relay is jolted or vibrated.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a new and improved relay having the abovedescribed characteristics.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a polarized two-position relay of the plug-in type which is compact in design and reliable in use.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved polarized relay which may be easily and rapidly fabricated and assembled from a minimum number of parts so as to minimize the manufacturing cost of the relay.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a relay armature and mounting structure therefor utilizing a minimum number of parts while presenting negligible frictional resistance to the operating force exerted thereon in response to low energy level operating pulses supplied to the relay.

A still further object of the'present invention is to provide a new and improved relay enclosure having no screws or other such securing devices which can work loose when the relay is vibrated during operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a polarized relay employing a biasing magnet, the structure of the relay being such that the magnetization of the magnet is unaflected by the control signal to the relay.

Briefly, the above and further objects are realized in accordance with the present invention by providing a magnetically biased polarized relay which comprises as its principal operating parts a composite, permanently magnetized stator, a control winding mounted within said stator, and a balanced armature rotatably mounted within said Winding for selective movement to either one of two stable positions in the magnetic circuit of the stator. The operating parts of the relay are resiliently supported within a frame on the opposite outside faces of which are mounted a pair of contact spring assemblies or pile-ups, and a contact actuating member is attached at its midpoint to the armature and at its opposite ends to the actuable members of the movable contact springs. In this manner a completely balanced relay is provided so that a unidirectional control voltage signal of low level may be used selectively to operate the contacts. Moreover, once the movable contact springs have been so actuated, they cannot again be ice control winding of a unidirectional signal of polarity opposite to that of the signal which last actuated the contact springs, shocks, vibrations and the like having no adverse effect on the operation of the relay.

In addition, the biasing magnet is so mounted in the stator with respect to the control winding that the magnetic flux passing through the stator due to current flow in the control winding is perpendicular to the axis of polarization of the permanent magnet. Consequently, the strength of the permanent magnet is unaffected by the flux which is produced by the control winding even though a substantial current induced magnet field may be present in the magnet.

The invention, both as to its organization and operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the acc ompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of the relay of the present invention with a portion of the protective case broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the device of Fig. 1 with certain portions thereof removed;

Fig. 3 is a top elevational view of the device of Fig. l with certain portions thereof removed;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 assuming the entire structure to be shown therein; and

Fig. 5 is an exploded isometric view of a portion of the device of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention is there shown as embodied in a direct current polarized relay 10 which comprises a plurality of contact spring assemr blies 11 and 12 mounted against the outside faces of a frame 14. The spring assemblies ill and 12, respectively, comprise a plurality of movable contact springs '16 and 17 which are connected through an actuator 18, formed of insulating material, to a movable armature 19.

In accordance with conventional practice, the movable contact springs 16 and 17 and the resilient stationary make-and-break contact springs with which they respectively cooperate are all insulated from each other I in the mounting assemblies used to mount these confurther actuated other than by the application to the tact springs on the frame 14.

The actuating mechanism for selectively moving the contact springs 16 and 17 selectively to complete and interrupt electrical circuits connected thereto comprises, as its principal elements, an armature 19, a permanently magnetized stator, generally designated as 23 and a control winding 21 which is positioned within the stator 20 and surrounds the armature 19. As best shown in Fig. 5, the stator 20 comprises three separable parts, namely, a pair of ferromagnetic heel pieces 22 and 23 and a permanent magnet 24. The heel pieces 22 and 23, which are structural counterparts, are U-shaped, and the magnet 24, which is rectangular, is positioned b tween the bight portions thereof. As is indicated in Fig. 5 by the letters N and S the magnet 24 is so polarized that the heel pieces 22 and 23 are of opposite polarity. The armature 19 is disposed substantially along the principal axis of the winding 21 and, therefore, is adapted to carry substantially all of the lines of fiux of the magnetic field which is established by a control current flowing in the winding 21. The armature is adapted to be selectively moved by the current induced field therein into one of two positions in the magnetic circuit of the stator 20, and to this end, and as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, it is pivotally mounted about a point centrally located with respect to the heel pieces 22 and 23. It will be apparent by reference to Figs. 4 and 5 that the magneticlines of flux which-are produced by the current flowing through the coil 21 and which pass through the magnet 24 are perpendicular to the axis of polarization of the magnet 24, and therefore, the strength of the magnet 24 is not aifected by the current flowing in the coil 21. Since relays of this type should have a constant holding power on the armature, thereby to insure against spurious operation of the relay in response to pulses of current of less than a standard predetermined value, this feature eliminates the need for frequent adjustment of the relay or adjustment of the associated electric circuit to compensate for changes in the holding power of the relay.

eferring to Fig. 5, the heel pieces 22 and respectively include pairs of arms 25 and 26 and Z7 and 22% against diagonally opposite ones of which the armature 19 may be rotated to its two limiting positions. Thus when the armature is in the position shown in Pig. 1, it completes the magnetic circuit of the stator by carrying north-to-south lines of flux from the permanent magnet 24 in an upward direction. With the armature in this position, the lines of flux produced by current flow in the coil 21 in part pass upwardly or downwardly through the magnet 24, depending upon the polarity of the current through the coil and the direction in which the coil is wound. Similarly, when the armature 19 occupies its other extreme position, the lines of flux produced by current flow in the coil 21 in part traverse the magnet 24 in a direction extending longitudinally of this magnet. Thus regardless of the position of the armature 19, the current induced flux which traverses the magnet 24 does so in a direction which is perpendicular to the axis of permanent magnetization thereof. As a consequence, the magnetization of the magnet 24 is substantially unaffected by the current induced flux traversal thereof which re sults from energization of the coil 21.

In order to rotate the armature clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 1 to its other limiting position, a unidirectional current of proper polarity may be supplied to the winding 21 so as to produce in the armature 19 a magnetic flux of opposite polarity to that pro duced therein by the magnet 24. 1f the magnetic flux thus produced in the armature 19 by the winding 21 exceeds that produced by the magnet 24 by at least a predetermined amount, the magnetic field in the air gaps between the armature 19 and the arm 27 and between the armature 19 and the arm 26 exerts a force couple on the armature 19 which overcomes the biasing force exerted thereon by the magnet 24 to cause the armature 19 to rotate clockwise. When the control signal is removed from the winding 21, the armature remains in the latter position and, moreover, is held in this position by the magnetic flux from the permanent magnet 24 which passes through the stator 20. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, energization of the winding 21 with a control current of one polarity causes the armature 19 to pivot in one direction, whereas energization of this winding with a control current of opposite polarity causes the armature 19 to pivot in the opposite direction and whenever the control current is interrupted, the armature 19 is magnetically held stationary in the position to which it is moved.

Referring now more particularly to the structural aspects of the relay 10, the frame 14 comprises a unitary nonmagnetic member formed into a pair of bacl;-to-bacl: channels including a common web portion 31?. The one of these channels which extends downwardly in the illustrated embodiment of the invention includes a pair of flanges 31 and 32 respectively provided at their ends with a pair of legs 33 and 34 which are received in suitable apertures in a base plate 35. As shown, the plate 35 cooperates with a cover 36 to provide a housing. for the relay 10.

In order to elfect a simple and yet effective conneetion between the frame 14 and the plate 35, the legs 33 and 34 terminate in shoulders 37 and 38 which rest on the upper surface of the base 35 adjacent the apertures therein so as to support the operating parts of the relay in a fixed position with respect to the housing. If desired, and preferably, one or more of the legs 33 and 34 may be bonded, as by soldering, to the base 35.

The upper channel portion of the frame 14 includes a pair of upstanding flanges 49 and 41 to the opposite outside faces of which are attached the contact spring assemblies 11 and 12. The frame 14 is stamped and formed from a single piece of flat sheet stock, and, as shown, the upper and lower channels are angu-larly displaced degrees with respect to one another.

The flanges 40 and 41 are provided with notches 42 on the side edges thereof to accommodate a pair of O shaped spring clamps 43 which secure the contact spring assemblies 11 and 12 to the frame The clamps 43 each have a reversely bent bight portion 44 to provide transverse resiliency and the arms thereof are provided with struck-out lugs 45 which engage the inner faces of the flanges 40 and 41 and thus secure the contact spring assemblies 11 and 12 to the frame 14. The contact spring assemblies 11 and 12 may also be cemented to the flanges 40 and 41 and, moreover, may include projections which extend into apertures (not shown) in the flanges 40 and 41. Relative vertical movement of the contact springs in the assemblies 11 and 12 is thus prevented by the bonding or by the projections which cannot be spuriously removed from the apertures in the frame 14 because of the clamps 43.

It has been found to be desirable to mount the operating parts of the relay resiliently with respect to the supporting frame 14 in order to facilitate assembly of the relay and, more importantly, to insure proper operation thereof under severe operating conditions. Accordingly, the armature 19, the stator 20, and the winding 21 which in combination comprise a unitary subassembly, are resiliently mounted within the upper channel of the frame 14 by means of a plurality of bowed leaf springs 47 and 48. The bowed spring 47 is located between the flange 41 and the sides of the heel piece 22 with the center portion of the spring 47 engaging the flange 41 and the ends of the spring 47 respectively engaging the sides of the heel piece arms 25 and 26. In order to prevent endwise movement of the spring 47, the ends thereof are provided with notches which fit over a plurality of cars 47a in the arms 25 and 26. The arms 27 and 28 are also provided with a plurality of cars 47a so that the spring 47 may be used at either side of the stator 20. The spring 48, which prevents vertical movement of the heel pieces 22 and 23 with respect to the frame 14, is fixedly secured at its ends to the top of the flanges 40 and 41 and the angulated intermediate portion thereof engages the tops of the heel pieces 22 and 23.

In order to mount the armature 19 for pivotal movement relative to the stator 20 and also to support the winding 21, a U-shaped supporting member 50 having a pair of arms 51 is mounted between the opposing faces of the arms of the heel pieces 22 and 23. Vertical movement of the member 50 relative to the stator 20 is prevented by a plurality of shoulders 52 on the arms 51 which engage the inner faces of the arms of the heel pieces 22 and 23. The width of the upper and lower portions of the arms of the support 50 thus controls the length of the air gaps between the armature 19 and the stator 20. Sidewise relative movement between the heel pieces 22 and 23 and the support 50 is prevented by positioning the side edges of the support 50 in a plurality of notches 54 in the arms 2528. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the winding 21 surrounds and is insulated from the support member 50 by means of a tubular insulator 55 having flanged ends 5511. A leaf spring 56 is positioned between the top surface of the insulator 55 and the lowei '5 faces of the arms 25 and 27 to bias the winding 21 against the upper faces of the stator arms 26 and 28 and thus prevent vertical play between the winding 21 and the other parts of the relay.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the armature 19 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 58 which is journaled at its opposite ends in suitable apertures 59 in the support 50. Sidewise movement of the armature 19 into engagement with the inner faces of the support 50 is prevented by means of a pair of washers 60 which are positioned intermediate the armature 19 and the support 50.

The actuator 18 and the spring 48 are provided with apertures 61 and 62 which are in registry with one another and through which the upper portion of the armature 19 extends. The upper ends of the arms of the support 50 are also anchored within the aperture 62 in the spring 48. -As best shown in Fig. 3, the respective ends of the actuator 18 are apertured to receive the movable ends of the springs 16 and 17 in the assemblies 11 and 12. The actuator 18 is secured to the armature 19 so as to facilitate assembly of the relay without using screws, rivets, or similar fastening devices. Specifically, the armature 19 is provided with a notch 63 on one side near its upper end and the top of the armature is provided with a bevel 64 at the opposite side. Therefore, although the aperture 61 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the armature 19, the actuator 18 may be snapped into engagement with the armature 19 by placing the aperture 61 over the end of the armature 19 and tilting the connector 18 into the notch 63. The ends of the contact springs 16 and 17 are then inserted into the slots provided in the actuator 18 to receive the same.

While the invention has been described in connection with particular embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein which are within the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A polarized relay comprising a nonmagnetic, channel-shaped frame, first and second C-shaped heel pieces spatially arranged in side-by-side relationship within said frame, a permanent magnet interposed between said heel pieces for oppositely polarizing said heel pieces, a nonmagnetic armature and coil support member mounted by said heel pieces between respectively adjacentarms thereof, a coil mounted on and surrounding said support member, an armature pivotally supported intermediate the ends thereof in said support member, one end of said armature extending outwardly beyond the end of said support member, an apertured spring secured between the flanges of said frame, said one end of said armature extending loosely through the aperture in said spring for unrestricted movement by said spring, a nonconductive connector plate interconnected between said one end of said armature and a movable contact element, and a flat spring interposed between one flange of said housing and one of said pole pieces.

2. A polarized relay comprising a pair of U-shaped heel pieces each having a web and two extending arms, said heel pieces being respectively mounted in spatially disposed parallel planes, a permanent magnet mounted between the bight portions of said heel pieces, the opposite poles of said magnet respectively engaging said heel pieces so that said heel pieces are of opposite polarity, a nonmagnetic coil and armature support member mounted between the four arms of said heel pieces, a winding surrounding said support member, a magnetic armature pivotally mounted within said support, pivotal movement of said armature being limited by engagement thereof with the arms of said heel pieces, a box frame in which the heretofore recited components are resiliently mounted, said frame including an aperture through which said armature extends, and the dimensions of said aperture sufiiciently exceeding the corresponding dimensions of said armature to permit unrestricted pivotal movement of said armature, a contact assembly mounted on said frame and including at least one movable contact, and a connector interconnected between said one end of said armature and said movable contact.

'3. A polarized relay comprising a pair of U-shaped heel pieces, said heel pieces being respectively mounted in spatially disposed parallel planes with the arms of the pieces extending outwardly in the same direction, a permanent magnet mounted between the bight portions of said heel pieces with the north and south pole faces of said magnet respectively engaging said heel pieces near opposite ends of the respective bights thereof, a nonmagnetic coil and armature support member mounted between said heel pieces with opposite ends of said support member being positioned between oppositely polarized arms of said heel pieces, a winding surrounding said support member, a magnetic armature rotatably mounted within said support, rotation of said armature being limited by engagement thereof with the arms of said heel pieces, a nonmagnetic channel member in which said heel pieces are resiliently mounted, movable contact means mounted on said channel member, and a connector interconnected between one end of said armature and said movable contact means.

4. In a relay of the type having a coil and an armature movable in response to the presence of a predetermined electric current in said coil, a base member, a frame comprising a common web portion having a first pair of spaced downwardly extending arms defining a first channel and a second pair of spaced upwardly extending arms displaced from said first pair of arms to define a second channel, the end portions of the arms defining said first channel being secured to said base, means supporting the coil and movable armature Within the arms defining said second channel, a set of contact spring assemblies mounted on the outside faces of the arms of said second channel with the actuable portions of said assemblies extending beyond the marginal ends of the arms of said second channel, said armature being mounted within second channel for pivotal movement in a plane perpendicular to the arms of said second channel, one end of said armature extending beyond the marginal ends of the arms of said second channel, and connector means connected between said one end of said armature and said actuable portions of said assemblies.

5. A polarized relay comprising a pair of U-shaped heel pieces, means mounting said heel pieces in spaced parallel relation with the arms on both of said heel pieces extending outwardly in the same direction, a permanent magnet interposed between and extending parallel to the bight portions of said heel pieces, the axis of polarization of said magnet extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which said arms of said heel pieces extend so that said heel pieces are oppositely polarized, an armature having spaced portions disposed between opposite pairs of said arms adjacent the ends thereof, means mounting said armature for movement about an axis generally parallel to said arms and perpendicular to said axis of polarization, and a winding for producing a controlled magnetic flux through said heel pieces.

6. A polarized relay comprising a pair of U-shaped heel pieces, means mounting said heel pieces in spaced parallel relation with the arms on both of said heel pieces extending outwardly in the same direction, a winding mounted between said arms and including an axial opening extending parallel to and spaced from the bight portions of said heel pieces, a permanent magnet interposed between and extending parallel to the bight portions of said heel pieces, the axis of polarization of said magnet being such that said heel pieces are oppositely polarized, an armature disposed in said axial opening and including spaced portions disposed between said arms at opposite ends of said heel pieces, and means mounting said armaa ture for movement about an axis parallel tosaid arms and perpendicular to said permanent magnet.

7. In a relay of the type having a coil and an armature movable in response to the presence of a predetermined electric current in said coil, a base member, a frame comprising a common web portion having a first pair of spaced downwardly extending arms defining a first channel and a second pair of spaced upwardly extending arms displaced 90 from said first pair of arms to define a second channel, the end portions of the arms defining said first channel being secured to said base, means supporting the coil and movable armature within the arms defining said second channel, a contact spring assembly mounted on the outside face of at least one of the arms of said second channel with an actuable portion of said assembly extending beyond the marginal end of the adjacent arm of said second channel, said armature being mounted within said second channel for pivotal movement in a plane perpendicular to the arms of said second channel, one end of said armature extending beyond the mard9 ginal end of said one arm of said second channel, and connector means connected between said one end of said armature and said actuable portion of said assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,436,354 Burke Feb. 17, 1948 2,594,088 Sonnemann et a1. Apr. 22, 1952 2,614,184 Robinson Oct. 14, 1952 2,698,366 Howell Dec. 28, 1954 2,731,527 Marsh Jan. 17, 1956 2,741,728 Distin Apr. 10, 1956 2,756,372 Martindell July 24, 1956 2,767,280 Hall et al. Oct. 16, 1956 2,798,916 Fisher July 9, 1957 2,816,190 Peterson Dec; 10, 1957 2,881,365 Berstien Apr. 7, 1959 2,884,498 Fisher Apr- 28, 1959 2,892,055 Wantosch June 23, 1959 

